Andrew Mamedoff

Andrew Mamedoff Historical Figure Nationality: United States of America (born in the Russian Empire) Year of Birth: 1912 Year of Death: 1941 Cause of Death: Plane crash Occupation: Pilot Parents: Lev Mamedoff; Natalia Vonsyatsky Military Branch: Royal Air Force Fictional Appearances: Or Even Eagle Flew POD: July 2, 1937 Type of Appearance: Direct

Flight lieutenant Andrew Beck "Andy" Mamedoff (12 August 1912 – 8 October 1941) was an American pilot who flew with the Eagle Squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain in World War II. He was one of 11 American pilots who flew with RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940, thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939–45 campaign star.

After a stint with No. 71 Squadron RAF, the first of the Eagle Squadrons, he was promoted to flight commander of No. 133 Squadron RAF in August 1941, the first American to reach that rank. That same month, Mamedoff became the first American to take a war bride during World War II, marrying Alys Laird "Penny" Craven. His plane crashed during a standard transit flight in October 1941, probably due to poor weather conditions.

Andrew Mamedoff in Or Even Eagle Flew

Andrew Mamedoff was one of several Americans who volunteered to fly for the Allies after the outbreak of World War II.

Mamedoff was living in Los Angeles when the war began. He was recruited by Colonel Charles Sweeny to volunteer to fight in Europe. In May, 1940, he and fellow pilot Gene "Red" Tobin went to Montreal to meet with Sweeny and other volunteers. While staying at the Mount Royal Hotel, Tobin and Mamedoff met fellow volunteers Vernon "Shorty" Keough, and the very famous woman flyer, Amelia Earhart. Mamedoff was the first to recognize Earhart when she approached them.

After a few hours in the hotel bar, the four were approached by the bellboy, who provided them with envelopes sent by their recruiter, Colonel Charles Sweeny. The envelopes contained train tickets to Halifax, where they were to wait for another contact. Once they arrived in Halifax, a Frenchman provided them with traveling documents and money, and directed them to the harbor. Mamedoff and Keough boarded the Guigamp. Earhart and Tobin boarded the Pierre L.D., and soon they were on their way to France.

Two weeks later, the convoy safely arrived in St. Nazaire. However, it was immediately plain the war was going badly for France. After dealing with a snippy functionary who finally let them enter the country based on Earhart's reputation, the four pilots boarded a train for Paris. They arrived safely, and were put up in a fleabag hotel, where they listened to German bombing raids throughout the night. However, as the war was going horribly for Allies, the French government ignored the Americans for a few days. While all four Americans passed their medicals, the French did not give them planes.

On June 10, 1940, the quartet realized that Paris was going to fall. They boarded a train to Tours, which was the home of an airfield, and now the French government. While the French Air Force knew who they were, they were unable to train the four on French planes before France asked for an armistice on June 17. Realizing that they couldn't stay in France, the four resolved to get to the UK. On June 18 they stole a pair of Potez 63 two-seaters (Earhart piloted one with Mamedoff in the passenger seat; Tobin and Keough took the other) and flew across the English Channel, safely landing in a farmer's meadow. The farmer assumed they were German, but then recognized Earhart. British soldiers arrived in short order.

While the British press loudly touted the Americans' arrival in London, the RAF was less certain. After a brief period of vacillation, the RAF agreed to train the three men at Croydon. Earhart, however, had to pressure on Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory to get to Croydon.

At the end of July, the four were posted to 609 Squadron at Middle Wallop. During the raucous last night in Croydon, a drunken South African flyer named Piet attempted to kiss and grope Earhart. She responded by headbutting him in the bridge of his nose. Tobin, Keough, and Mamedoff intervened, an act which further cemented the bond among the four. After all of the Americans did ferry duty for a few weeks, the Germans bombed Middle Wallop. All four Americans survived, but the attack made the risks of combat clear. Not long after that, all four were deemed operational, and they began flying as rear-guards, or "tail-end Charlie", for main vics of three. During their first fight, Mamedoff's plane was shot up, but he made it back.

After this engagement, 609 Squadron moved to the forward base at Warmwell. After another lull, the squadron guarded a convoy. Earhart was flying tail-end Charlie when German bombers attacked. During a dog fight, Earhart successfully downed a Me-110. The Germans withdrew without doing damage to the convey or to the British fighters. In early September, 609 Squadron returned to Middle Wallop. On September 9, 1940, two days into the German Blitz, the Squadron scrambled to London. The next weeks was a series of sorties as the Germans continued to attack London daily. Daylight sorties continued until September 15; after September 15, the Germans ceased their daylight attacks. Towards the end of the month, Keough, Tobin, and Mamedoff were assigned to 71 Squadron, the first of the proposed Eagle Squadrons. Earhart did join them after fighting a political battle with Air Marshal Sholto Douglas.

However, the squadron did very little at first, because the RAF did not provide planes until November 1, 1940. During his downtime, Mamedoff met Penny Craven, the daughter of a very wealthy cigarette manufacturer. Despite his poverty, Penny quickly fell in love with him, and he her. As 1940 passed into 1941, 71 Squadron began patrolling the North Sea. It was not combat, but the changing weather patterns of the area made it dangerous work all the same: Keough's section was scrambled on morning in February, 1941. He and another pilot dove into a cloudbank, and then likely dove straight into the sea. Earhart, Tobin, and Mamedoff were hit the hardest. For once, Earhart got drunk with the rest of the men. During the course of the night, Earhart and Mamedoff wound up making love, despite Mamedoff's engagement to Penny Craven. Both knew this would be a one-time event, based on the unique emotional loss of Keough.

71 Squadron moved to Martlesham Heath in April, 1941, and began flying combat missions again. They moved to North Weald in July, and were upgraded to Spitfire Vs. Some of the men (including the person Earhart believed attempted to assault her) moved to 121 Squadron, the second Eagle Squadron. Not long after, 71 Squadron began making raids on France, known as "Rhubarb Raids". Hitler's decision to attack the Soviet Union required a shift of airpower from France to the east, which made raids somewhat easier. Nonetheless, Taylor warned his pilots against being "heroes" unless they had no choice. In August, Mamedoff became the first American promoted to flight officer, and was transferred to the 133 Squadron, the third Eagle Squadron. While he accepted Earhart's congratulations, he acknowledged she should have been promoted. A few weeks later, Mamedoff and Penny were married in nearby Epping. Earhart attended, and met Penny in person. After a short honeymoon, Mamedoff went his new post. Mamedoff's good fortune was short-lived; in early October, Mamedoff was killed when he flew into the side of a hill on a foggy night. At the funeral, the minister read "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee Jr.